Canoe Slalom Olympic Heats Day 1 Review and Day 2 Preview

The first day of thrilling canoe slalom competition got underway at the Deodoro Whitewater Stadium.  First, a review of the C1M and K1M heats followed by a preview of what to expect on Monday for the second day of canoe slalom heats. 

C1M – Qualification to semi-final largely follows World ranking

In the C1M heats 14 of the 19 started were set to qualify for Tuesday’s semi-final

Three-time Olympian and reigning World Champion, David Florence (GBR) posted the fastest clean run in heat 1, ahead of Matej Benus (SVK) and Grzegorz Hedwig (POL).

Olympic silver medallist, Sideris Tasiadis (GER) showed his experience with a controlled 92.23 seconds clear to take the heat win. Jose Carvalho (POR), Jianming Shu (CHN) and Vitezslav Gebas (CZE) left it until heat 2 to be sure of making the cut.

Neither of the under 23 C1M paddlers made it through the qualification to the semi-final; local Felipe Borges (BRA) & Jean Pierre Bourhis (SEN).

K1M –Goncales becomes a local hero while top-ranked athlete goes out

In the K1M heats 15 of the 22 started were set to qualify for Wednesday’s semi-final

Ivrea World Cup Champion Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA) posted the fastest clean run in heat 1, ahead of Pedro Da Silva (BRA) and Jiri Prskavec (CZE).

Pepe Goncalves, shown on results as Pedro Da Silva, become a local hero with his early lead in the K1M. He finished heat 1 in 2^nd (above) and heat 2 in 5^th place. It was the fastest raw run time of 86.48 and it demonstrates already both how much the Brazilian team has advanced and the home advantage. Whatever happens on Wednesday, he will have inspired a new generation of paddlers to benefit from this Deodoro legacy.

If De Gennaro (ITA) can maintain this form through the semi-final and final, he could become the 3^rd Italian Olympian Champion after Pierpaolo Ferrazzi (1992) & Daniele Molmenti (2012).

There were good performances from all the under 23 K1M paddlers making the cut into the semi-final; Grigar (SVK) in 4^th, Da Silva (BRA) in 5^th, Prskavec (CZE) in 7^th, Smolen (USA) in 10^th and Leitner (AUT) in 15^th.

Top-ranked K1M, Lucien Delfour (AUS) has a habit of cutting the lines very tight. This time suffered the disappointment of being judged not to have his whole head through gate 20 and failed to make the cut to the semi-final.

Day 2 heats preview – C2M & K1W

More tight racing that is too close to call with C2M & K1W. The paddlers will go off at 3-minute intervals in the reverse order of ICF World Ranking.

12:30 / 12:57 – Men´s Canoe Double (C2M) - Heats 1st Run

13:10 / 14:00 – Women’s Kayak (K1W) - Heats 1st Run

14:20 / 14:47 – Men´s Canoe Double (C2M) - Heats 2nd Run

15:00 / 15:50 – Women’s Kayak (K1W) - Heats 2nd Run

Paddlers to watch in C2M

The Olympic medallists competing in Rio are:

• David Florence & Richard Hounslow (GBR)) – silver London 2012
• Mikhail Kuznetsov & Dmitry Larionov (RUS) – bronze Beijing 2008

The World Champions competing in Rio are:

• Franz Anton & Jan Benzien (GER) - 2015
• Luka Bozic & Saso Taljat (SLO) – 2014
• David Florence & Richard Hounslow (GBR) - 2013

There are five previous Olympic boats racing tomorrow; Gauthier Klauss & Matthieu Peche (FRA), Luka Bozic & Saso Taljat (SLO), David Florence & Richard Hounslow (GBR), Piotr Szczepanski & Marcin Pochwala (POL) and Mikhail Kuznetsov & Dmitri Larionov (RUS).

Expect loud support as Charles Correa & Anderson Oliveira represents host nation Brazil.

Paddlers to watch in K1W

The Olympic medallists competing in Rio are:

• Jess Fox (AUS) - silver London 2012
• Maialen Chourraut (ESP) – bronze London 2012

The World Champions competing in Rio are:

• Katerina Kudejova (CZE) - 2015
• Jess Fox (AUS) – 2014
• Corinna Kuhnle (AUT) – 2010 & 2011
• Jana Dukatova (SVK) - 2006

There are an amazing eleven previous Olympians racing tomorrow; Jess Fox (AUS), Maialen Chourraut (ESP), Corinna Kuhnle (AUT), Jana Dukatova (SVK), Marta Kharitonova (RUS), Stefanie Horn (ITA), Ana Satila (BRA), Fiona Pennie (GBR), Luuka Jones (NZL), Natalia Pacierpnik & Ella Nicholas.

Expect more loud support as Ana Satila represents host nation Brazil

European Champion, Melanie Pfeifer (GER) said, “It feels great to be part of the German Olympic Canoe Slalom Team. Since I´ve been a teenager I watched every Olympic Games and I was dreaming about being part of the team when I am older. Now a dream comes true.” 

Will the experience of three-time Olympians; Mikhail Kuznetsov & Dmitri Larionov (RUS) show through in C2M? Will the vitality and flair of the under 23 shine through trump the vitality and flair of the young guns? We have four under 23 athletes competing in the K1W heats; Jess Fox (AUS), Ana Satila (BRA), Viktoriia Us (UKR) as well as 17-year-old Hind Jamili (MAR). Jess Fox has just won the U23 World Championships, while Ana Satila is having an incredible season; currently lying 4^th in the 2016 World Cup series.

Keep tuning in

The blog will continue throughout the Olympic canoe slalom race; bringing you race analysis of C2M and K1W as well as Tuesday’s C1M semi-final preview.

Follow the live Olympic canoe slalom race commentary on Twitter @PlanetCanoe or search hashtag #ICFslalom